Series switch control



Filed Oct. 9, 1946 Patented May 9, 1950 SERIES SWITCH CONTROL yhilip H. Williams, San Jose, Calif., assignor to E. A. Kent, Berkeley, Calif.

Application October 9, 1946, Serial No. 702,168

4 Claims. 3

This invention relates to an electric control apparatus, and while it is particularly adapted for use in the condensation return system constituting the subject matter of my Patent No. 2,357,440, issued September 5, 1944, it is to be understood that its use is not restricted to such systems.

One object of the invention is to provide an apparatus by means of which switches for a number of circuits may be moved to open and closed positions by a common actuating device, the switches being capable of being individually set so that opening and closing thereof will be in timed relation to each other and certain of the switches open sooner or later than others.

Another object of the invention is to provide an apparatus of this character wherein the switches are mounted on carriers pivoted to supporting arms for angular adjustment so that when the arms are tilted about pivots, the

switches will open and close at the same time or one after another.

Another object of the invention is to provide an apparatus wherein a preliminary tilting may be imparted to the arms carrying the switches and further tilting movement then imparted to the arms for opening the switches.

Another object is to so mount the arms that they will tilt at the same time when th apparatus is actuated for opening or closing the switches.

Another object of the invention is to provide an apparatus of this character which is simple in construction, eihcient in operation, and not liable to become deranged after setting.

In the accompanying drawings:

Fig. 1 is a front elevation of the improved apparatus.

Fig. 2 is an end view thereof.

The improved electric control apparatus has a base bar I which may be mounted horizontally on a suitable support in any desired manner. At one end of the base bar is a disc 2 pivotally mounted by a pin 3 for turning movement, and the upper end of the disc is formed with an ear 4 on which one end of a floating bar 5 is pivotally connected by a pin 6. The floating bar extends longitudinally of the base bar in upwardly spaced parallel relation thereto and the end of the floating bar opposite from the disc is Supported by a link or bar 1 pivoted to the bars by pins 8 and 9. The pin 6 also serves to pivotally mount an arm l0 having forks II at its upper end and carrying a mercury switch tube l2, the lower end of arm It) being pivotally connected with a rod or bar l3 by a pin l4. Bar 43 extends longitudinally of the base bar 5 in front thereof and links have their lower ends connected with the bar 53 by pins it and their upper ends connected with the floating bar 5 by pins Il. Since the links it and the switch arm i5 are all pivoted to the floating bar 5 and the actuating bar 33, turning of the disc 2 about the pin 3 will cause them to be simultaneously tilted and longitudinal shifting of the actuating bar 53 will also cause them to be simultaneously tilted.

Above the links are disposed arms or carriers l8, l9 and 29 pivotally mounted for angular adjustments by the pins i? and having wide lower end portions 58a, ifia and its formed with arcuate slots I81), I91) and 2% through which pass screws 2| carried by the links i5. By loosening the screws, the arms may be tilted about the pins ii to angularly adjusted positions and mercury tube switches 22, 2t and 24 carried by forks at upper ends of the arms tilted. from a horizontal position to an inclined position a predetermined extent. In the present illustration, switch 22 is at an incline of five degrees, switch. 23 is at an incline of ten degrees, and switch 2 is at an incline of fifteen degrees, and, from an inspection of Fig. 1, it will be seen that when the arm it and the links 55 are tilted by movement of the actuating bar IS, the switches will be successively opened and closed in timed relation to each other. Turning of the disc 2 about its pivot pin 3 will also tilt the switch tubes in an opening or closing direction as means of controlling or timing opening and closing of the switches. Turning oi the disc is accomplished by a pressure element 25 having its plunger 26 connected with a bell crank lever 21 which is connected with the disc by a link 28, and in order to shift the actuating bar I 3 longitudinally and simultaneously tilt the arms l0, l8, and I9 and 20, there has been provided a temperature actuated element 29 having its plunger 30 pivoted to a bell crank lever 33 which is connected with pin is by a link 32. The temperature responsive element and the pressure responsive element are of the type illustrated and described in my Patent No. 2,357,440 issued September 5, 1944, and their specific construction and operation need not be herein set forth.

In describing the operation of this improved electric control apparatus, it will be assumed that it is installed in connection with a return system.

Assuming that it is desired to use the invention in connection with a return system wherein the flow of the returning condensate is regulated to control the temperature in the heating coils.

' Assume that the system has a three position throttling valve on the pump discharge and a bypass valve around the pump by which the condensate can be re-circulated around the pump without draining the coils when the throttling valve is completely closed by high temperature.

Assume that it is desired to actuate the first solenoid of the throttling valve and bring the valve to half zlose'dipo'sition when temperature of the condensate reaches "320 F., to stilliurther close the valve through action of the second solenoid when condensate temperature reaches 325 R, and to open the bypass and so stop' deliveryxof pump when temperature reaches 330 F.

Then in that case switch P2 will beset th-close at 320 F., switch 22 to close at 325 and switch 23 to close at 330 F. sAddi-tional switches may be added and set at any desired point to operate ventilator fans, start conveyors oreoiitrol pumps to spray cooling water as required all in lproperlsequenc'e.

It will be evident that any altering -'-the ise'tting tof the various parts and-changing theanglesiof =the lswitch ftubes that many useful 'a'nd Inovel eflectsfmay' be attained-"in the operation of'automatte machines. Also switches may "be "set; to open in sequence or ipartfto open and part to close on :same faction.

the itemperaturerrises, the arm IIL inPrespouse to action at 2- 9, tilts"'the switch tube lz tothe extension arms f8, f9 and .28 to a position toclose the other switches 22, ZS and 24;o'r open =saine according :to the adjustment made in the angular pos'iti'on cf the arms,

:Having thus described the invention, What is claimed is:

1. In an -le'c'tric Circuit controlling device, a horizontal mounting member, afhorizo'ntal fi'oat in'g rne'ndb'er, means 'for supporting "said floating member in vertically spaced parallel relation to said mounting member and allow the floating member to move longitudinally while remaining parallel tothe mounting rr'lei'n'jbeiya series of verticahswit'ch arms pivoted to said floating member, horizontal "swit'cl'ies carried by said arms and opened and closed by tilting movement 01 the arms, a pressure actuated element 'for shifting ing member longitudinally and tilting s ch arms to adjusted positions toward and a ay from switch closing position, and "a tempe "ture actuated element connected with sate 'switbh arms for' ti1ting same to f close "and open the switches in response to variations in pressure. V V

2. In an electric circuit contr'olling ilevice, a mounting f bana fioat i'n'g *bar over said mounting bar in vertically spaced parallel relation "thereto and s'hi'ftablelongitudinally whileremainin'g par"- a-ll'l to the mounting member, an "actuating bar ex-tending longitudinally of said mounting bar inherit thereof, arms disposedvertically'and piv- (Wed at upper and lower ends to the "floating bar and the actuating bar and tiltable about their upper ends for opening and closing switches, mercury switches mounted horizontally at upper ends of said arms and extending longitudinally of the floating bar, a disc rotatably carried by said mounting bar and having its upper portion pivoted to said floating bar, pressure actuated means for rotating said disc and shifting said floating bar lon'gitudinally to anguIarly adjust said arms, 'an'd'tmperature actuated means connected with said actuating bar to shift the actuating bar longitudinally and tilt said arms to open and close the Fswitches.

3. In an electric circuit controlling device, a

a horizontal mounting bar, a floating bar over said mounting bar in spaced parallel relation thereto and shiftable longitudinally While remainingparallel to the mounting bar, an actuatingbareiitending longitudinally of said mounting bar in front thereof, arms disposed vertically and pivotedat upper and lower "ends to the floating bar and the-actu'ating bar, switch carriers pivoted "to upp'erends "or said arms, for tilting movement longitudinally of the floating bar and having iower portions overlapping 'the arms and'formed with transversely extending ar'c'u'a'te slots, adjustable fasteners carried by said arms and passing tnrou'ghsaiu notsror r'eleasablyholding the switch carriers in angul'arly set positions when tightened, pressure =actua'ted means connected with said floatingfbar *for shifting same 'longitiidin'ally and angularly adjusting aliof the *a-iins an'rl swit ch carriers, and temperature actuated eoi ine'cted with Said actuating bar for shifting same lo'ngitudinally and tilting the arms and switch carriers to close and open switches.

In an "electric "circuit controlling device, a ounting bar, a heating bar over said mounting b'ar in' sp ac'ed parallel relationtherto and shiftaue longitudinally while remaining parallel to -the inounti'ng member, an actuating bar extending longitudinally of said mountingbar in front thereof, arms disposed vertically and pivoted at upper and lower ends tothe floating bar and the actuating bar, switch carriers pivoted-to said arms, for -tilting movement longitudinally of the floating bar and 'e'xte'nding upwardly therefrom, means for releasably securing"said switch carriers in angularly'adjusted relation to their companion arms, pressure actuated means connected with said floating bar for shifting same longitudinally and angularly adjusting all of the arms "and switch carriers, and temperature actuated means connected with "said actuating bar for shifting same longitudinallyand tilting "the arms and the switch carriers to fclose "and open switches.

PHILIP WILLIAMS.

REFERENGES 'CI'IE-D V The following references aredr" record in the file of 'this .pait'erit:

UNITED STA-I- ES PA'IENTS Number I :Name Date {15652056 fsniiith i n 'rfa'e, 1923 12;35732'40 "Williams sent. 5. 1944 

